A top Italian journalist has delivered the best news West Ham fans could wish for on new manager after a major development.
West Ham appear to be leaving no stone unturned in their apparent efforts to replace David Moyes.
As everyone knows by now, the Scot’s contract runs out this summer and is unlikely to be renewed.
The Hammers have held talks with Sporting boss Ruben Amorim and out of work Julen Lopetegui.
The latter is said to have impressed majority owner David Sullivan. So much so that some reports have gone as far as to claim Lopetegui will be the club’s choice.
That prospect has not gone down too well among West Ham fans.
With good reason too it seems after a leading Wolves expert told Hammers News that supporters are right to have reservations over Lopetegui.
Not only his style of play – which is very similar to that of Moyes – but also philosophy.
West Ham looked to be honing in on Lopetegui
While Hammers fans have been far from happy at the thought of appointing Lopetegui, the news went down well in Italy.
When it was reported Lopetegui was going to snub AC Milan for West Ham, the Serie A giants’ fans were reportedly hugely relieved.
Amorim looks a non-starter for West Ham after claims his talks were an engineered ploy to prompt Liverpool to appoint him.
So focus seems to have centred on Lopetegui since with Sullivan said to have been impressed by him.
But a top Italian journalist has delivered the best manager news West Ham could wish for after a big development.
Italian journalist delivers best manager news after development
The Gazzetta dello Sport’s Luca Bianchin has sensationally claimed that Lopetegui is now in fact set to take over at Milan.
Last night Bianchin teased his story released this morning in the famous pink paper, saying: “Julen Lopetegui is increasingly the candidate for the bench for Milan 2024-25.
“He hasn’t signed but Milan want to bet on him: he has a clear advantage over the other possible coaches for next season. An article in the Gazzetta on newsstands in a few hours.”
That Gazetta article goes on to state Lopetegui has seriously impressed Milan’s key figures in interviews.
And Lopetegui has given Milan his preference over West Ham’s more lucrative offer.
“Lopetegui has not yet signed a contract on a piece of paper with the Rossoneri logo but he has everything to do so: he is highly regarded by the management, Gerry Cardinale liked him in the interview held in recent weeks and has a more prestigious CV than the other candidates,” the report states.
“Lopetegui has been liked for some time and the contacts with his agents, which have also been frequent in recent days, date back a long time…
“The club has thus identified its man in Lopetegui, with priority over Paulo Fonseca, Domenico Tedesco, Mark van Bommel, Christophe Galtier, Thiago Motta and other candidates. The final word has not yet been written but Lopetegui has given Milan his preference over West Ham’s – richer – offer and plans to coach in Milan soon.”
Don’t fret, Milan rarely get it right
Most West Ham fans will undoubtedly be delighted by this news.
Although it may make some question whether they are missing a trick given how much a huge club like Milan have been impressed by him.
Especially as Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the club’s key figures in deciding on the next boss.
West Ham supporters can be reassured by the fact Milan have struggled to get it right when it comes to hiring managers.
They have had 10 in the last 10 years.
This news, combined with word from France overnight about West Ham and Fonseca will put a spring in the step of the club’s fans this weekend.